Arsenal suffer another setback as Hincapie leaves Ecuador camp
He is the ninth Arsenal player to pull out.
Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie has become the latest Gunners player to withdraw from international duty, leaving the Ecuador camp early following medical tests.
Hincapie played 72 minutes for La Tri on Friday as they drew 1-1 with Morocco in a friendly in Madrid.
But in a statement released on Sunday, the Ecuadorian Football Federation confirmed Hincapie had been released to link back up with Arsenal, who face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
“The Ecuadorian Football Federation reports that players Piero Hincapie and Denil Castillo underwent medical and imaging tests and, based on the evaluation, both have been withdrawn from the national team roster,” the statement read.
“The results were immediately sent to their clubs, where they will begin their respective recovery processes. The national team’s medical staff will monitor their progress.”
Hincapie joins lengthy list of Arsenal withdrawals
Ecuador will face Netherlands on Tuesday in their final friendly before squads for the 2026 World Cup are named in May.
But Hincapie will play no part in that game, as he instead becomes the ninth Gunners player to withdraw from international duty during this break.
England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were due to link up with the Three Lions ahead of their game with Japan, having been rested by Thomas Tuchel for Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay. They instead each pulled out, while team-mate Noni Madueke suffered a knee injury in that game.
Eberechi Eze withdrew from the England squad with a calf issue, while Belgium’s Leandro Trossard, Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes, France’s William Saliba and Netherlands Jurrien Timber all pulled out of international duty for fitness reasons.
Of the nine players, six of them started last week’s EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City and did not appear to suffer an injury in the 2-0 loss at Wembley.
Arsenal’s return to action next weekend marks the start of a busy run-in for Mikel Arteta’s men as they compete on three fronts, while nursing a nine-point lead over City in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal remaining fixtures
- Southampton (A, FA Cup) – April 4
- Sporting CP (A, Champions League) – April 7
- Bournemouth (H) – April 11
- Sporting CP (H) – April 15
- Manchester City (A) – April 19
- Newcastle United (H) – April 25
- Fulham (H) – May 2
- West Ham (A) – May 9
- Burnley (H) – May 17
- Crystal Palace (A) – May 24
The FA Cup semi-finals are scheduled to take place on April 25/26, with the final to be held on May 16.
The Champions League semi-final first legs are scheduled for April 28/29, with the return legs on May 5/6. The final will be held in Budapest on May 30.